Hey Folks, Topic: More on the Challenge I’ve decided to label these “challenge” posts with the “topic” tag. These entries aren’t really topics, but I figure some folks might get some insight from these ramblings. One requirement of the challenge is to write a new story every day for a month (old hat — Dean’s done it twice now). But to fulfill both requirements of my challenge, I also have to post each new scene/page as … Read more
Hey Folks, A few more thoughts on the forthcoming challenge— I won’t write a novel in public. There’s no realistic way to do so. Also, I’ve decided on a dedicated Facebook page as the venue for this challenge. Might as well make it truly “in public.” To that end, here’s the post I added to Facebook this morning. I also shared it with several major writers’ groups around the nation: ANNOUNCING A NEW CHALLENGE A few … Read more
Hey Folks, Hey, a new month and a new week! Does it get any better than that? I don’t think so. After I finished here yesterday, I set up my formulas for my May spreadsheet, then went in to cook supper. *** May I just say I don’t like people who are ignorant? I’m not talking about intellectual capacity or the lack thereof. I’m talking about a willingness to assert assumptions despite a complete lack of … Read more
Hey Folks, Yesterday, after I filed my Journal, I was out in the Hovel messing around. Bought a new shop vac and carried it out there. After I set it where I wanted it, I thought I’d enjoy a cigar and a few games of Spider. So I sat down at my writing ‘puter, raised the lid and turned on the mouse. And the first sentence of a short story popped into my head. So I … Read more
Hey Folks, This just in, and I’m putting it right up front: For anyone out there who is still looking for an agent or who HAS an agent for that matter, please do yourself a favor and read Kris Rusch’s Business Musings post “Writers, Scam Artiss, Agents and More” at http://kriswrites.com/2017/04/26/business-musings-writers-scam-artists-agents-and-more-sigh/. Well, yesterday, even with my brain pretty much toast at around 2 p.m., I created a cover for “Suction Cups,” then a promo doc. Then … Read more
Hey Folks, Well, the first reader for “How Hard the Ground” enjoyed it, so it goes to market today. Of course, he’s alone with me often, miles from anywhere, way out in the desert. And he knows how well I can shoot. So that might have had a lot to do with his positive report. (grin) But I’ll take it. Topic: The Two Levels of Pacing If you’ve been following me or my work for any … Read more
Hey Folks, Today is a nonwriting day for fiction. It’s currently only around 1:30, and I’m making the call. I’m in the Hovel, where I’m going to enjoy a good cigar in solitude and do something completely useless, like play solitaire or something. Then I’m going to finish a few chores at the house and call it a day. I spent much of the morning doing things around the house, including putting a new screen on … Read more
Hey Folks, Very short post today. Knowing me, I’ll be back with longer stuff tomorrow. Today, and Writing Rolled out at 3. Dabbled in what people call “politics” for awhile, but that isn’t an intense enough word. 5:30, I set aside the impulse to chew wheels and spit nails and escaped to the story. Cycling, of course. Wrote for about a half-hour, then got busy around the yard, then a walk with my wife, then Walmart, … Read more
Hey Folks, A few days ago I mentioned that I had an idea for an 11th novel in the Wes Crowley saga. A few of you cheered. Thanks for that. Part of my reasoning was that the last novel (and the saga) didn’t end the way I wanted it to. Several other readers also noted it didn’t end the way it would have if they were the protagonist. So I was all set to pull a … Read more
Hey Folks, Some folks’ need for boundaries is amazing to me. To see what I mean, read the comment by “Patrick R” on Dean’s http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/story-twenty-one/ and then Dean’s response. With appropriate respect to Patrick R, I found the exchange hilarious. *** I did a spell check of The Platinum Blond Perturbance yesterday after I finished it. Ugh. Even writing the promo doc for this one was like pulling teeth. And there are people who spend months … Read more